13 Responsibilities of a Catcher

We recently talked about how a pitcher can find success at the youth level, even without a plus fastball or knee buckling curve. Now it’s time to talk about catching.

The funny thing is that the pitching article also relied heavily on the catcher. But just as is the case in real life, the pitcher gets the headline while the catcher does much of the work.

Actually, we don’t want the pitchers to know that. But the little secret among catchers is that you are actually the one who controls the game — you just don’t get the credit.

But that’s okay. While it’s not particularly glamorous, every coach knows how important a catcher is to his team’s success. A great catcher can make his pitchers better. A great catcher can make all of his teammates better.

Of course, having the responsibilities of a catcher while getting little of the glory isn’t a particularly desirable task. But if you’re up to taking on the following 13 responsibilities, you have the potential to be a great catcher…

1. Be Selfless

You touch the ball as much as everyone but the pitcher. But when you do your job properly, you’re barely noticed.

That’s okay. You don’t need the attention. Or at least, if you want to be a great catcher you had better not care about getting attention.

You’re not the pretty boy on the mound. You’re not glamorous. When the game is over, everyone talks about the pitcher.

But you don’t care.

2. Make Your Pitcher Look Good

As a selfless catcher, you have one primary responsibility: Make your pitcher look good.

The pitcher will get all of the credit. A catcher needs to accept it. Enjoy it. It’s his job to get that pitcher his glory.

If the catcher lines up down the middle, that pitcher will throw a meat ball. Don’t do that.

After a big victory, the pitcher gets credit for the win, not the catcher. The pitcher gets credit for all of the strikeouts, not the catcher. The pitcher gets credit for limiting the number of hits, not the catcher.

That’s okay. If a pitcher looks good when all is said and done, you did your job.

3. Keep Your Pitcher Confident

Pitchers are fragile. Or again, that’s the secret among catchers.

If he’s getting shaken up on the mound, call time to slow him down. Remind him how amazing he is. You need a confident pitcher or forget about getting the next batter.

Keep him loose. Keep him focused. Keep him feeling great about himself.

4. Let Nothing By You

You’re the only player on the field with gear on. You must use it. You have no business being afraid of the ball.

Dive at the ball. Throw your body at it. Do everything you can to stop it.

Let nothing by you.

There is little that is more frustrating to an opposing team than a catcher who forces them to go station to station rather than allowing the occasional easy jog to the next base.

While nothing should ever get by you, this is especially true with a runner on third. That is your runner. Even the wildest of wild pitches can’t find the backstop.

5. Have a High Pain Threshold

You may have gear, but that doesn’t mean this will be easy.

You’ll take foul balls off of your mask. Sometimes repeatedly.

Batters will hit you on the back swing. Or they’ll throw their bat at you on the way to first. Thanks, guys!

More than any other player, you’ll take wild pitches and foul balls off of the most delicate place on your body. And while the typical human will need to be escorted from the premises, all you’ll need is 30 seconds.

You’ll dive. You’ll leap. You’ll collide with runners. You’ll have more bumps and bruises at the end of the game than you’ll be able to count.

But this is in your job description. And you wear it like a badge of honor because no one else would be willing to take that type of abuse.

6. Keep the Umpire Happy

Umpires are human. You’d be surprised how that fact can impact the borderline calls.

Make that umpire your best friend. Ask him about his family. About his full-time job. About his playing days when he was a kid. Tell him he’s an awesome umpire. Be sincere.

When that umpire takes a foul ball, call time. Walk slowly to your pitcher for a meaningless chat. When you return, ask that umpire if he’s okay.

Protect that umpire. Make it your job. If a ball gets by you that hits the umpire, apologize and shake his hand.

7. Know the Situation

Your pitcher is nervous. Your teammates in the field aren’t paying attention. It is your responsibility to know what’s going on.